JB you need to put an asterisk on the former choice though b/c LeBron has no desire to be a historical afterthought or considered one of the pieces on a championship team. LeBron wants to be the man that brings home that bacon, sure he needs some help (all greats do) but he wants it to be on his shoulders. If he were to team up with Wade and Bosh there is no way history looks back on that championship (guarantee they'd get one) as LeBron's, it would be theirs.

Not I sir.

I think if LeBron James had the option of driving and dishing to Wade rather than actually taking the last shot, he'd be the happiest man on the planet. I really think dude would prefer to defer.

Also Reghi actually made a great point today in all the talk about Shaw ... concerned a Shaw hire turns LeBron off b/c ... LeBron needs an HC that was a former player etc...

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude.

To the blackboard and you must write "Reg never makes any good points" 500 times after school.

The same reason everyone else in the first round of that draft avoided Blair: Injury risk. If his knees collapse, you're still on the book for his salary for at least two years. In an earlier age, some teams may have risked that. In the No Benjamins Association its 'welcome to lowball contract round, Dejuan'.

May have figured into it but the guaranteed money DS brought was the overriding factor IMO. Couldn't afford to tie up that money on a kid with no cartilage when you were hoping to sign a veteran or two that would get you to the finish line.

The same reason everyone else in the first round of that draft avoided Blair: Injury risk. If his knees collapse, you're still on the book for his salary for at least two years. In an earlier age, some teams may have risked that. In the No Benjamins Association its 'welcome to lowball contract round, Dejuan'.

May have figured into it but the guaranteed money DS brought was the overriding factor IMO. Couldn't afford to tie up that money on a kid with no cartilage when you were hoping to sign a veteran or two that would get you to the finish line.

Ths stats link works fellas.

82 games and playoffs fellas. Not one missed.

Maybe they shoulda got another opinion from a real doc, not the internets?

And FTR I wanted him as well. But he wasn't a difference either way and the money was spent elsewhere where they thought it was wiser. Wasn't a case of not paying over slot for principle or lack of funds like the Tribe.

They went a different way. LBJ quits in Game 5 with or without Blair. As a 1 seed with or without Blair. I'll take Powe for the same money all day and twice on Tuesday.

jb wrote:If it was win now, Blair coulda helped us, let alone over a project who will probably never play an NBA moment. cat didn't do shit even this year. Barely plays. Sayin'.

If it was 'win now', you have to take in account what happens if Blair winds up getting as much play time as Eyenga. Its what Lee said and what John said: Nobody knows what it means to play without any ACLs, and we're still in the realm of guaranteed money. Two and two put together equals TBO wasn't going to gamble TMLP's money on that roll of the dice.

And its all niggling anyways. Unless he somehow makes Roker a better coach and Lebron care enough for games 5 and 6, Blair's meaningless to the big picture.

"The fucking Who...... If I want to watch old people run around ill go set fire to a nursing home." - CDT

jb wrote:If it was win now, Blair coulda helped us, let alone over a project who will probably never play an NBA moment. cat didn't do shit even this year. Barely plays. Sayin'.

If it was 'win now', you have to take in account what happens if Blair winds up getting as much play time as Eyenga. Its what Lee said and what John said: Nobody knows what it means to play without any ACLs, and we're still in the realm of guaranteed money. Two and two put together equals TBO wasn't going to gamble TMLP's money on that roll of the dice.

And its all niggling anyways. Unless he somehow makes Roker a better coach and Lebron care enough for games 5 and 6, Blair's meaningless to the big picture.

We can end agreeing there. Just noting that you don't put parsley on a full plate.

4. Money - It's not very often that players leave money on the table, and going to Chicago will leave money on the table for both LBJ and Bosh. They won't get their max raises per year, and they'll get 5 years instead of 6. Granted LBJ gets a max again at the end of this (and likely Bosh) but there is some uncertainty on what that will be since the league will be under a new CBA at that time.

3. Legacy - There is a very legit shot that going to Chicago or Miami will limit what his legacy could be. Will people say after he wins a championship in a year that he is only able to win one with a Dream Team with Wade and Bosh? Wade will already have his ring and Bosh shouldn't be concerned with that, but the possibility is there for LBJ. Going to Chicago could cause the same story. Jordan didn't have to go team with Ewing and Miller to win a championship. This doesn't even consider the negative publicity of leaving the team would cause.

2. Ownership and Front Office - Gilbert has shown a willingness to do what it takes to succeed, and that will go a long way with LBJ. He is one of the top owners in the league. Chicago does not have the same benefit with their owner, and they have a Paxson in their front office. The guy wanted to fight his coach recently, in fact. Miami may have an upper hand here with Riley, but their owner does not have the reputation of Gilbert.

1. LBJ's Best Case Scenario - This is something that I have not seemed mentioned, but staying in Cleveland is the only chance he has at getting the best case scenario for LBJ. Granted, going to play for that Bulls roster with Bosh will give him multiple championships (even though I disagree on Deng playing SG), but where is the mountain to climb? Winning with that roster will not be worth what it would be to his legacy to take the Cavs roster with Bosh, and he has to think that it is doable with Bosh, a new coach, and an owner willing to spend truck loads of cash. Leaving will affect his legacy. I'm not certain how much, but it won't only be Cavs fans that remember.

Everything... the championships, his perception around the league and with the fans, the overall legacy he leaves... will be better if he accomplishes success in Cleveland instead of another city. Yes, there is more risk involved in comparison to the starting 5 Chicago will have the next 2 years, but LBJ has to believe he can win a title if he can convince Bosh to come to Cleveland and be his Pippen.

Oh and Wally S is not going to be traded by anyone, let alone the Cavs. He is probably done playing and we don't even have his bird rights anymore. He also would have to stay on the team that trades for him's roster for the entire year or David Stern would anally impale someone.

FTR, if LBJ can't convince a Bosh to come here then I think he is as good as gone. I just think that right now we may finally be in position to have some luck as far as our timing goes.

Bosh is very close to perfect as far as his game next to LBJ goes. He doesn't come off as caring about playing in a city like Cleveland, and his current team has admitted they'd be open to a sign and trade. They have two bad contracts that we could take back to make it worth their while, and add a defensive big man next to their offensive minded center. JJ would help add to the pot for them, but if we could do it cheaper then great.

e0y2e3 wrote:Oh and Wally S is not going to be traded by anyone, let alone the Cavs. He is probably done playing and we don't even have his bird rights anymore. He also would have to stay on the team that trades for him's roster for the entire year or David Stern would anally impale someone.

Wally S is not the hold up on this. If we don't have the rights to him we could do a sign and trade with Z then without the buyout. If not Z then someone not worthy of $5 million would certainly accept the benefit of their circumstance.

jb wrote:John, I just canb't do the discussion / analysis on your plane. I just can't accept it as fixed and unmutable.

I actually agree with you more than you think / perceive, but when you try to force me into a box that looks at the issue your way, I can not.

You remind me of a zoological biologist who inists that a species is the best it can be because it's mutations wer ethe best possible. We don't know that just as we don;t know what Ferry;s real options were in either actuality or unexplored potential. In the stupid anology I've chosen that would even make Tree blush, we wouldn't know the possible genome codes not put together, or the mutation that was better got prematurely munched by a preditor while in the wrong place / wrong time prior to reproduction.

IOW, I don't know precisely what DF's choice set was, nor do you, nor perhaps, does DF know the unexplored. You may know what was public, but that's it. Not an insult. You follow this stuff more than anyone who isn't a cultivated on line ahole personality.;-)

Mmmkay, what I do know was that DF was always either a dollar early or a day short. He put together chicken nuggets with velveeta sauce, not viable chemistry, and reasons aren't excuses.

Genomes? Zoological biology? Velveeta? How the fuck did we get here?

Just bustin yer chops. Could there have been a trade that DF could have put together that would have landed better/more fittable talent? Dunno. DF never did take me up on my offer to have him run all potential trades by me.

But where we part company is your stance that because that mythical trade WASN'T made, then it somehow is a failing of DF's. You grade on a pretty tough curve there, considering that only 3% of the class can win. Not saying your scale is wrong, just that I don't agree with it. Last I checked, world's big enough for both viewpoints.

If it flies, floats, or fornicates, always rent it -- it's cheaper in the long run.

Basically boils down to:a) Cleveland is homeb) $30M morec) Cavs do have trade assets so team will be better, especially when combined with...d) Further development of JJ under the... e) New head coachf) More pressure everywhere else

JB you need to put an asterisk on the former choice though b/c LeBron has no desire to be a historical afterthought or considered one of the pieces on a championship team. LeBron wants to be the man that brings home that bacon, sure he needs some help (all greats do) but he wants it to be on his shoulders. If he were to team up with Wade and Bosh there is no way history looks back on that championship (guarantee they'd get one) as LeBron's, it would be theirs.

Not I sir.

I think if LeBron James had the option of driving and dishing to Wade rather than actually taking the last shot, he'd be the happiest man on the planet. I really think dude would prefer to defer.

Also Reghi actually made a great point today in all the talk about Shaw ... concerned a Shaw hire turns LeBron off b/c ... LeBron needs an HC that was a former player etc...

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude.

To the blackboard and you must write "Reg never makes any good points" 500 times after school.

JB Reghi's point was that he isn't so sure there is any real insight at all as to LeBron's needs and wants as a coach, and in his opinion LeBron isn't overly concerned about the HC aspect of his potential future team. To that I have to say Reghi makes a solid point. I'm no fan of his but I will give him his credit when due. The media an fans in general will react in any way possible to make it sound like any move the Cavaliers make is not good for retaining LeBron and any move any other team makes is a great move in attaining LeBron.

LeBron isn't saying anything, and that is smart IMO. While I want him to say something to the effects that he is staying the best thing for him is to STFU, and he is. So in regards to the HC search nobody has a clue on what LeBron thinks about that, not you not me and not any schmuck in the media.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"